πετάξεις
Wordform Details
Translation: to flyto throwto toss
Part of Speech: verb
Inflection Type:
second-personsingularaoristsubjunctiveIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: πετάω
Translation: to fly; to throw; to toss; to discard (verb)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek πέτομαι (pétomai, 'I fly'). The root is related to the Proto-Indo-European *pet- meaning 'to rush, to fly'. This same root appears in English words like 'petition' (originally meaning to rush toward) and 'feather' (related to flying).
Example Usage
Τα πουλιά πετάνε ψηλά.
The birds fly high.
Πέταξε το χαρτί στα σκουπίδια.
He threw the paper in the trash.
Το πουλί πετάει ψηλά στον ουρανό.
The bird flies high in the sky.
Πέταξε το χαρτί στο καλάθι.
He threw the paper in the basket.
Πέταξα τα παλιά μου ρούχα.
I threw away my old clothes.
Το αεροπλάνο πετάει πάνω από τα σύννεφα.
The airplane flies above the clouds.
Mnemonics
- Think of a 'pet' that can fly - πετάω (petáo)
- Imagine 'petting' something so hard you throw it away - πετάω
Antonyms
Cultural Context
The dual meaning of 'to fly' and 'to throw' makes this a versatile verb in everyday Greek. It's commonly used in expressions about discarding things, birds flying, or throwing objects.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While πετάω (petáo) means 'to fly/throw', πατάω (patáo) means 'to step on' or 'to press'.
This word:
Το πουλί πετάει.
The bird flies.
Confused word:
Πατάω το κουμπί.
I press the button.
Notes: The difference is just one vowel, but the meanings are completely different.
Mnemonic: πετάω has 'ε' (epsilon) like 'elevate' (to fly up), while πατάω has 'α' (alpha) like 'at your feet' (to step).
Explanation: πετάω means 'to throw' while πιάνω means 'to catch/grab' - they're essentially opposite actions.
This word:
Πέταξε την μπάλα!
Throw the ball!
Confused word:
Πιάσε την μπάλα!
Catch the ball!
Notes: These verbs often appear together in contexts involving games or sports.
Mnemonic: πετάω sounds like 'pet-away' (throwing away), while πιάνω sounds like 'piano' (which you grab to play).